A day after the state government claimed that allowing outside food in multiplexes could create “security issues” and “chaos”, Mumbai has a few very basic questions regarding the government’s 180-degree turn on the matter:

1 People are frisked at the entrance of the multiplexes and their bags are scanned. If the cinema halls are inside a mall, the frisking and scanning takes place again. How, then, is food a security risk?

2 People can carry food on planes and trains. How does food become a threat only inside multiplexes?

3 Less than a month ago, during the monsoon session of the legislature, food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan had said that starting August 1, people will be allowed to carry food inside multiplexes. Then, did the government wake up to the ‘food as threat’ angle suddenly?

On Wednesday, this newspaper carried a test drive (
‘Now showing: confusion’, MM, August 8) to reveal how multiplexes were hiding behind the ‘lack of clarity’ excuse to not allow moviegoers to carry food, forcing them to pay twice or thrice the amount for food items that cost far less outside.

The state government has based its arguments against allowing outside food in multiplexes on the ‘opinion’ of the then Director General of Police Satish Mathur, who told Mumbai Mirror that his opinion was based on the Delhi Police chief’s order banning outside food and tiffin boxes in cinema halls after one such container had exploded in a movie hall in the national capital.

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“We don’t have in place the kind of security setup wherein every item can be checked in movie theatres, and such checks would lead to huge queues. Unlike at the airport, where people report early, people show up at movie theatres even after a movie has started,” Mathur said.

Mirror has learnt that the office of the incumbent DGP, Dattatray Padsalgikar, has suggested modifications to the previous stance. Confirming the development, a Maharashtra Police source said, “The police can comment only on the security aspect of the issue. If at all outside food is brought to multiplexes, there are procedures for screening of such food and liquids. Keeping that in mind, some suggestions have been made on carrying out those procedures to ensure that if a decision is taken to allow own food and liquids, these measures will be in place. This will have to be done by the security staff of the movie theatres.”

Security experts slam the state, HC asks questions

Retired Indian Police Service officer KP Raghuvanshi, who served as the police commissioner of Thane and the state Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, said he “did not agree” with the government on the matter. “We have the technology, security apparatus, and manpower to check what people are carrying to a place designated to need security. The prices of food items in multiplexes are exorbitant, and the government should curb the rates or allow people to bring food from outside,” he said.

Consumer activist Shirish Deshpande termed the government stance as a “foolish argument”. “Whoever has given this opinion must explain how food becomes a security issue as multiplexes frisk customers and scan their bags. The state’s argument is not making sense,” Deshpande said.

Whoever has given this opinion must explain how food becomes a security issue as multiplexes frisk customers and scan their bags. The state’s argument is not making sense

Shirish Deshpande, Consumer Activist

In the high court yesterday, during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by filmmaker Jainendra Baxi against the ban on carrying outside food and beverages inside the multiplexes, a division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai demanded an explanation from the state government.

“What security concern can be caused by food inside theatres? People are not prohibited from carrying food to any other public place besides cinema halls. If people can be permitted to carry home food inside the aircraft then why not to theatres?” the bench sought to know.

The court also dismissed the argument of senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, representing the Multiplexes Owners’ Association, that one could not cite his/her fundamental right to seek that he/she be allowed to carry food inside theatres.

Chagla had said that the price of food sold inside multiplexes was a commercial decision but the prohibition on outside food was because of security reasons. “Tomorrow, citizens will cite their fundamental right and want to carry their own drinks to the hotels and restaurants,” Chagla said.

The high court, however, noted that restaurants cannot be compared with multiplexes. “We are only on the issue of security since that is the state’s main argument. Explain to us what are the security problems that a person can cause by carrying food items from home into a multiplex. The food sold inside multiplexes is priced exorbitantly. Also, by prohibiting people from carrying food from home, you are compelling entire families to consume junk food,” the court said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which is at the forefront of the fight against multiplexes overcharging moviegoers, claimed the state government had arrived at a “settlement” with the multiplex owners. “Food and civil supplies minister Ravindra Chavan must give an explanation. We will continue our agitation unless there is a specific order from the court,” senior MNS leader Sandip Deshpande said.

The lone voice in support of the government’s stance was of retired IPS officer MN Singh, who has served as Mumbai’s police commissioner. “What happens if someone is consuming meat while sitting next to a vegetarian inside a movie hall? Such a situation can lead to argument, chaos, and therefore this too can be a security issue. It will be difficult for the theatre managements to handle such situations,” Singh said.

Going a step further in defence of the government, he added that people who can afford expensive movie tickets can also afford the food items at multiplexes. “Those who cannot, need not go,” Singh said.
— Inputs: Sagnik Chowdhury

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the AAP government’s stand on a public interest litigation seeking framing of guidelines allowing movie-goers to carry food and beverages inside theatres.

The plea was moved by a lawyer, Ekta Singh, who alleged that she was not permitted to carry food items and water bottle inside a movie theatre in Delhi’s Jangpura locality. She has alleged that the food and drink that was available inside the theatre were over-priced.